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C<i 


AN  ADDRESS 

TO 

CANDIDATES  FOR  THE  MINISTRY, 

ON   THE 

IMPORTANCE  OF  AIMING  AT 

EMINENT  PIETY 

IN  MAKING  THEIR  PREPARATION  FOR  THE 

SACRZiD  OFFICi:. 


BY  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 

Prof,  of  Theology  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J. 


ADDRESS 


Whether  an  unconverted  Minister  may  be  the  instru- 
ment of  the  conversion  of  others,  is  a  question  which  has 
sometimes  been  agitated;  but  although  the  answer  should 
be  in  the  affirmative,  yet  it  can  afford  very  slender  ground 
of  consolation  to  one  who  has  assumed  the  office  of  the 
Gospel  Ministry,  without  possessing  genuine  piety.  To 
be  the  instrument  of  bringing  others  to  heaven,  and  yet  to 
be  cast  down  to  hell  ourselves,  is,  surely,  one  of  the  most 
appalling  considerations  which  can  possibly  be  presented 
to  the  human  mind.  A  sovereign  God  may,  indeed,  em- 
ploy any  instrument  he  pleases  for  the  conversion  of  sin- 
ners; but  it  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect,  that,  com- 
monly, he  would  make  use  of  unsanctified  men  in  this 
holy  work.  A  greater  calamity  to  the  Church  could  not 
easily  be  conceived,  than  the  introduction  of  a  multitude 
of  unregenerate  men  into  the  sacred  Ministry;  for,  such 
as  is  the  Ministry,  such  will  be  the  people.  Such  men 
will  ever  be  disposed  to  corrupt  the  simplicity  and  purity 
P 


176  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

of  the  Gospel,  which  the  carnal  mind  cannot  love ;  and 
even  if  they  should  preach  the  true  doctrines  of  the 
Bible,  their  ovi^n  hearts  can  never  be  in  accordance  with 
them;  and  although  their  words  may  be  the  truth  of 
God,  yet  its  good  tendency  will  be  counteracted  by  their 
proud  and  earthly  spirit.  Besides,  it  cannot  be  expected 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  will  usually  accompany  with  his 
sanctifying  influences  the  labours  of  men,  who,  even 
when  they  preach  the  word  of  God,  are  not  actuated  by 
a  desire  to  promote  the  glory  of  God,  or  to  rescue  men 
from  the  ruins  of  sin,  but  are  all  the  time  seeking  their 
own  glory,  or  aiming  at  their  own  emolument. 

That  genuine  piety  is  an  essential  characteristic  of  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  all  men  seem  now  to  admit;  for 
all  are  shocked  when  they  observe  a  wicked  life  in  one 
who  ministers  in  holy  things.  Piety  is  expected  as  a 
matter  of  course  in  all  those  who  have  it  as  their  official 
duty  to  inculcate  piety;  and  even  the  profane  despise 
the  wretch  who  dishonours  his  sacred  calling  by  a 
course  of  conduct  at  variance  with  the  holy  precepts  of 
the  Gospel.  However  men  of  the  world  may  be  grati- 
fied to  find  Ministers  coming  down  to  their  own  level, 
and  however  they  may  enjoy  the  company  and  lively 
wit  of  an  ambassador  of  Christ;  yet,  in  their  sober  judg- 
ment they  cannot  but  perceive  the  glaring  incongruity 
between  his  character  and  profession;  and  none,  except 
the  most  hardened  in  iniquity,  would  be  contented  to 
have  such  a  man  for  their  spiritual  guide.  In  extreme 
distress  and  mortal  sickness,  none  would  send  for  such 
a  one  to  comfort  them;    but  then  they  wish — if  they 


AIIHING  AT  EJIINENT  PIETY.  177 

desire  any  religious  conversation — that  the  most  godly 
Minister  be  brought  them.  In  our  Church,  the  posses- 
sion of  true  religion  has  been  considered  a  matter  of  so 
much  importance  in  the  ministry,  that  she  permits  no 
candidate  to  be  taken  on  trial  by  any  Presbytery,  until, 
by  a  free  and  full  conversation  on  experimental  religion, 
he  satisfies  them  that  he  has  more  than  the  name  or  form 
of  godliness;  and  that  he  has,  as  far  as  human  judgment 
can  determine,  experienced  in  his  own  soul,  that  blessed 
change,  which  is  called  the  new  birth.  And  it  is  a 
matter  of  vital  interest  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Church, 
that  this  salutary  provision  of  our  fathers  be  not  suffered 
to  degenerate  into  a  mere  formality.  If  the  time  should 
come — which  may  God  avert ! — when  vital  piety  shall 
not  be  deemed  an  essential  pre-requisite  to  an  entrance 
on  the  sacred  office,  Ichabod  may  be  written  on  our 
Church,  for  the  glory  will  have  departed  from  her. 
Whether,  now,  this  duty  is  performed  by  Presbyteries, 
with  as  much  fidelity  as  its  importance  demands,  I 
shall  not  take  it  upon  me  to  determine ;  but  it  cannot  be 
amiss  to  submit  it  to  their  consideration,  in  the  form  of 
an  inquiry.  In  some  Presbyteries,  the  salutary  practice 
of  conversing  freely  and  frequently  with  candidates  dur- 
ing the  period  of  their  continuance  on  trial,  has  been  in- 
troduced, and  is  calculated  to  produce  the  happiest  ef- 
fects. It  cannot  for  a  moment  be  supposed,  that  such  a 
continued  scrutiny  would  be  ungrateful  to  the  feelings  of 
pious  young  men.  They  are  often  involved  in  perplexing 
difficulties  in  relation  to  their  call  to  the  Ministry;  and 
most  commonly  their  difficulties  arise  from  doubts  re- 


178  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

specting  the  genuineness  of  their  religious  experience. 
To  such  it  would  often  be  of  incalculable  importance  to 
be  permitted  freely  to  expose  their  exercises  to  the  view 
of  experienced  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  that  they  might 
enjoy  the  benefit  of  their  counsels. 

JBut  my  object  in  addressing  you  at  present,  my  young 
friends,  is  not  to  insist  on  the  necessity  and  importance 
of  genuine  piety  in  the  sacred  office,  but  to  offer  some 
considerations  to  show  the  advantages  of  eminent  piety 
to  the  right  and  successful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
ministry. 

I.  The  first  remark  which  I  would  make  on  this  sub- 
ject is,  that  without  some  degree  of  eminence  in  our 
piety,  it  is  scarcely  possible,  that  we  should  possess  sa- 
tisfactory evidence  of  its  reality.  And  this  results  from  the 
very  nature  of  the  evidence  which  we  must  possess,  in  or- 
der to  be  satisfied,  on  solid  grounds,  respecting  the  good- 
ness of  our  spiritual  state.  A  man  can  in  no  other  way- 
know  that  he  is  renewed,  and  in  the  favour  of  God,  but 
by  the  exercise  of  faith,  repentance,  love  to  God  and  his 
people,  humiUty,  meekness,  submission,  &c.  but  the  cer- 
tainty, that  we  do  repent,  believe,  and  love  God  and  the 
children  of  God,  must  depend  on  the  strength  and  con- 
stancy of  these  exercises;  therefore,  they  alone  who  have 
attained  to  some  eminence  in  piety  will  possess  that  assur- 
ance, which  is  so  desirable  to  every  Christian,  but  espe. 
cially  important  to  the  Minister  of  the  Gospel.  When  the 
principle  of  piety  is  feeble,  the  '•'^maining  corruption  of 
nature  will  be  proportionally  stroftg,  and,  consequently, 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  179 

it  will  be  exceedingly  difficult  to  ascertain  whether  this 
weak  faith,  encompassed  by  so  many  infirmities,  is  in- 
deed a  saving  faith.  This  difficulty  is  increased  by  the 
consideration,  that  there  are  counterfeits  of  piety  so  im- 
posing, that,  if  it  were  possible,  they  would  deceive  the 
very  elect.  Some,  indeed,  will  be  disposed  to  allege, 
that  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  is  sufficient  to  furnish  un- 
doubted evidence  of  our  being  the  children  of  God,  even 
if  our  exercises  of  faith  and  love  be  very  feeble.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  the  Spirit  does  often  give  his  decisive  testi- 
mony to  the  fact  that  a  person  is  passed  from  death  unto 
life ;  but  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  the  witness  of 
the  Spirit  is  ever  given  independently  of  the  actual  ex- 
ercises of  piety.  It  seems  to  me  much  safer,  and  more 
reasonable,  to  believe,  that  this  testimony  is  affisrded  by 
calling  into  lively  exercise  the  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit; 
and,  although  it  is  true,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  does  shine 
upon  his  own  work  in  the  heart,  and  enable  the  pious 
soul  to  see  clearly  that  its  past  views  and  exercises  were 
of  a  truly  spiritual  and  evangelical  kind ;  yet,  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  think,  that  when  these  satisfactory  views  of 
past  experience  are  enjoyed,  the  present  state  and  exer- 
cises of  the  mind  are  more  than  usually  elevated.  When 
we  are  in  darkness,  and  our  faith  is  feeble,  we  are  unable 
to  recognise  the  character  even  of  those  holy  affections, 
which,  at  the  time,  appeared  most  clearly  to  be  the  fruit 
j)f  the  Spirit ;  but  it  is  a  matter  of  common  experience 
with  the  exercised  Christian,  that  when  he  has  a  re- 
newal of  these  pious  emotions,  he  can  look  back  and  clear- 
ly discern  the  nature  of  similar  exercises  which  were 
p  2 


180  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

formerly  enjoyed.  But  conceding  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
may  produce  in  us  immediately,  a  joyful  persuasion 
that  we  are  the  children  of  God — and  I  do  not  deny 
that  this  may  be  the  fact — to  whom  is  it  most  probable 
that  this  favour  will  be  granted  ?  To  him  whose  pious 
affections  are  lively  and  vigorous,  or  to  him  who  is  weak 
in  the  faith,  and  dull  and  irregular  in  all  the  exercises  of 
religion  ?  Undoubtedly  to  the  former.  It  is  not  God's 
method  of  dealing  with  his  children,  to  encourage  sloth 
and  unfaithfulness,  by  connecting  assurance  with  a  low 
state  of  piety;  but  this  is  the  gracious  reward  of  the 
watchful,  diligent,  persevering  believer.  When  the  ex- 
ercise of  piety  is  low,  anxious  fear  is  made  to  operate  on 
the  sluggish  mind.  And  if  there  are  cases  which  seem 
to  be  repugnant  to  the  statement  here  given,  they  may, 
nevertheless,  be  reconciled  with  it ;  especially,  when  it 
is  considered,  how  incapable  we  are  of  ascertaining  the 
real  spiritual  state  of  others.  In  order  to  this,  it  would 
be  necessary  that  we  should  see  the  person  in  his  pri- 
vate devotions ;  yea,  that  we  should  be  able  to  examine 
the  daily  feelings  of  his  heart.  Some  persons  who  are 
truly  and  ardently  pious,  and  who  hold  much  communion 
with  God  and  their  own  hearts  in  private,  do  not  exhibit 
to  others  as  much  appearance  of  lively  piety  as  many 
others,  who,  in  fact,  are  greatly  inferior  to  them.  This 
is  sometimes  owing  to  a  constitutional  reserve  and  diffi- 
dence, or  to  a  natural  buoyancy  of  spirit,  which,  when, 
the  person  is  in  company,  has  the  appearance  of  levity. 
And  again,  it  ought  to  be  considered,  that  as  none  are 
more  confident  of  their  good  estate  than  deluded  souls, 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  181 

many  of  those  who  seem  to  maintain  assurance  with- 
out much  appearance  of  elevated  piety,  may  belong  to 
this  class.  In  general  it  will  be  found,  that  a  rational 
scriptural  assurance  is  the  result  of  much  self-exami- 
nation, reading  the  Scriptures,  and  prayer,  and  that 
those  who  enjoy  this  delightful  persuasion  habitually, 
are  persons  in  whom  genuine  piety  has  been  assiduously 
cultivated,  and  has  acquired  deep  root,  and  is  in  a  heal- 
thy, vigorous  state.  If,  then,  you  would  gain  a  comfort- 
able assurance  of  being  the  children  of  God,  you  must 
aim  at  a  high  standard  of  piety. 

II.  Eminent  piety  is  not  only  necessary  to  the  peace 
and  personal  comfort  of  the  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  but 
it  is  requisite  to  prepare  him  for  the  faithful,  diligent, 
and  successful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office.  Pas- 
toral duties  are  often  exceedingly  difficult  to  be  per- 
formed. They  require  so  much  self-denial,  so  much  be- 
nevolence and  compassion,  and  so  much  spiritual  wis- 
dom, that  it  may  be  calculated  on  as  a  matter  of  certainty, 
that  they  will  be  neglected,  or  carelessly  performed,  un- 
less the  Minister  be  actuated  by  deep  and  strong  feelings 
of  piety.  It  requires  an  habitual  impression  of  divine 
things,  and  a  continual  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  our 
office,  to  keep  up  our  minds  to  that  lively  tone  of  feeling 
which  is  necessary  to  lead  us  forward  in  our  work  with 
alacrity,  energy,  and  perseverance.  The  temptations 
to  indolence  and  self-indulgence,  are  so  powerful  from 
without  and  from  within,  that  you  will  undoubtedly  grow 
remiss,  unless  you  are  sustained  by  more  than  common 


182  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

piety.  Some  will,  for  want  of  this,  be  led  away  by  the 
spirit  of  the  world  around  them,  and  will  be  satisfied 
with  such  attainments  as  the  low  state  of  piety  in  their 
people  demands.  They  sink  down  to  the  level  of  the 
Church,  which  they  serve,  instead  of  endeavouring  to 
raise  the  standard  of  piety  among  those  committed  to 
their  charge.  Others  become  discouraged  at  the  appa- 
rent  want  of  success  from  their  labours,  and  nothing 
more  effectually  cuts  the  nerves  of  effort  than  despon- 
dency. Such  Ministers  may  be  thought  very  pious,  be- 
cause they  are  low-spirited,  and  indulge  gloomy  antici- 
pations ;  but  there  are  few  things  more  inimical  to  lively 
piety  and  to  ministerial  fidelity,  than  this  moping,  des- 
ponding temper.  Few  things  have  a  greater  tendency 
to  harden  the  heart,  and  to  render  the  man  reckless  of 
consequences,  than  this  discouraged  state  of  mind.  The 
talents  of  such  Ministers  are  permitted  to  rust  for  want 
of  exercise,  and  all  their  efforts  are  slow  and  feeble. 
Others  again  will  engage  with  ardour  in  literary  pur- 
suits, and  while  they  are  gratifying  a  mere  natural 
thirst  for  knowledge,  or  a  vicious  ambition  of  pre-emi- 
nence, persuade  themselves  that  they  are  occupied  with 
the  labours  of  their  high  vocation.  Many  pastors  ne- 
glect the  spiritual  welfare  of  their  people  upon  pretence 
of  study,  when,  if  their  literary  pursuits  were  impar- 
tially examined,  they  would  be  found  to  have  little  or  no 
connexion  with  their  great  work;  yet  these  are  more  re- 
spectable and  more  useful,  than  the  class  of  indolent 
loungers,  who  are  seldom  in  their  studies,  and  who  have 
the  temerity  to  serve  God  in  his  sanctuary  with  crude, 


,        AI3IING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  183 

undigested  discourses,  which  cost  them  no  labour  in  the 
preparation.  Now,  the  remedy  for  all  these  evils,  and 
scores  of  others,  is  the  possession  of  higher  degrees  of 
religion.  This  will  make  the  indolent  man,  industrious; 
the  careless  man,  serious ;  the  ambitious,  humble.  This 
will  induce  the  servant  of  the  Lord  to  watch  for  souls  as 
one  that  must  give  an  account.  Who,  except  the  man 
who  has  his  heart  touched  with  a  tender  compassion  for 
perishing  souls,  will  sufficiently  exert  himself  to  rescue 
them  from  ruin  ?  The  Minister  of  Christ  should  be  ever 
on  the  watch  for  favourable  opportunities  of  winning 
souls.  He  is  a  fisher  of  men,  and  must  study  the  arts  of 
drawing  them  into  the  Gospel  net ;  accommodating  him- 
self to  the  tempers,  conditions,  and  circumstances  of  all, 
that  he  may  win  some.  Many  of  the  duties  of  the  pas- 
tor are  of  such  a  nature,  that  nothing  but  the  warm  feel- 
ings of  piety  will  lead  him  to  the  regular  performance  of 
them ;  and,  indeed,  if  they  should  be  performed  from 
other  motives,  it  would  be  in  such  a  manner  as  would 
be  productive  of  no  good.  Love  to  God  and  to  the  souls 
of  men,  is  the  very  principle  which  gives  activity  to  the 
faithful  Minister.  This  leads  him  to  patient  perseve- 
rance in  sowing  the  seed  of  the  Word ;  this  makes  him 
apt  to  teach,  and  willing  to  condescend  to  men  of  low 
estate,  to  give  them  the  needed  instruction.  Under  this 
fluence  the  spiritual  physician  will  be  found  in  the  ho- 
vels of  the  poor,  at  the  beds  of  the  sick,  and  in  the  house 
of  mourning;  but  there  is  no  other  principle  strong 
enough  or  pure  enough,  to  lead  to  the  faithful  discharge 
of  such  duties ;  and  that  it  be  efficient,  it  must  be  kept 


184  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

in  a  lively,  growing  state.  But  eminent  piety  is  not 
only  important  for  the  discharge  of  the  more  private  du- 
ties of  the  pastoral  office,  but  also  for  the  composition 
and  delivery  of  sermons.  Preaching  is  the  noblest  and 
most  useful  institution  among  men.  It  is  God's  great 
means  of  saving  sinners,  and  edifying  his  own  people: 
but  in  order  to  answer  the  end  for  which  it  was  designed, 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  must  be  rightly  performed. 
Many  things,  it  is  true,  are  requisite  to  make  a  truly  good 
preacher;  but  after  all  other  qualifications  have  been 
mentioned,  and  duly  appreciated,  it  will  be  found,  that, 
unless  eminent  piety  is  superadded  to  them  all,  there 
will  be  a  great,  and  indeed,  an  essential  defect.  The 
true  spirit  of  preaching  cannot  be  described  in  word?, 
but  it  can  be  perceived  and  felt;  and  this  spirit  is  nothing 
else  but  the  manifestation  of  those  emotions  and  desires 
of  the  heart  in  which  genuine  piety  consists.  The 
pious  man  speaks  from  the  heart;  and  there  is  a  myste- 
rious sympathy  between  the  soul  of  the  speaker  and 
those  of  his  hearers.  Men  need  no  instruction  to  enable 
thera  to  understand  the  language  of  genuine  feeling, 
and  where  that  feeling  is  the  exercise  of  the  pure  love 
of  God,  and  humble  penitence,  it  reaches  the  heart  of 
the  attentive  hearer,  and  communicates  by  sympathy 
something  of  its  nature,  so  far  as  there  exists  any  sus- 
ceptibility of  a  kindred  emotion.  If  sermons  were  al- 
ways composed  under  the  influence  of  pious  sentiments, 
they  would  never  be  those  cold,  formal,  lifeless  things 
which  we  often  find  them  to  be.  And  it  is  one  of  the 
strongest  arguments  in  favour  of  extempore  preaching, 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  185 

that  the  speaker  is  more  likely  to  feel  the  truth  which 
he  utters,  than  when  he  sits  down  to  write  in  his  study. 
But  this  is  not  always  the  fact,  for  the  extempore  preacher 
may  fall,  and  often  does  fall,  into  a  round  of  common- 
place ideas,  or  mere  generalities,  by  which  he  is  in  no 
degree  affected  himself;  and  which,  however  he  may 
exert  his  voice,  and  assume  the  appearance  of  earnest- 
ness, never  can  affect  the  intelligent  hearer.  The  true 
remedy,  and  the  only  remedy,  against  cold,  formal,  and  un- 
interesting written  sermons,  and  against  unmeaning  and 
unimpressive  extempore  harangues,  is  the  possession  of 
lively  feelings  of  piety  when  the  Minister  sits  down  to 
compose,  or  when  he  stands  up  to  speak.  O  how  precious 
would  the  word  of  God  be  to  the  pious  hearer,  if  it  was 
always  delivered  with  the  proper  spirit!  How  much 
more  would  preaching  attract  the  attention  of  the  careless, 
and  how  much  deeper  would  be  the  impression  on  their 
minds,  if  the  dispenser  of  the  word  not  only  delivered 
the  truth,  but  poured  forth  with  it  a  flood  of  pious  affec- 
tion. The  low  state  of  piety  in  Ministers  is  the  chief 
reason  of  the  want  of  success  in  preaching.  It  is  true, 
God  must  give  the  increase ;  but  when  he  gives  it,  he 
prepares  suitable  means  before  hand.  It  is  not  analo- 
gous to  his  method  of  dispensing  divine  influences,  that 
the  cold  and  formal  preacher  should  be  made  the  instru- 
ment of  much  good.  It  is  found,  in  experience,  that 
God  blesses  most  the  labours  of  those  whose  hearts  are 
most  sincerely  and  deeply  engaged  in  their  work.  Men 
of  eminent  abilities  without  lively  piety,  make  poor  and 
dry  preachers.    They  may  compose  rhetorical  discourses. 


186  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

and  deliver  them  eloquently,  but  the  spirit  is  wanting ; 
and  while  the  taste  of  the  refined  may  be  gratified,  and 
many  may  admire  the  ingenuity  of  the  preacher,  the 
pious  are  not  fed,  and  the  blessing  of  God  does  not  com- 
monly  accompany  such  preaching.  That  man  who  does 
not  seriously  aim  at  the  conversion  of  sinners,  is  not 
likely  to  be  the  instrument  of  this  great  change.  This 
leads  me  to  observe, 

III.  In  the  third  place,  that  eminent  piety  will  make 
you  mighty  in  prayer,  and  this  will  give  success 
to  all  your  other  labours.  The  most  accomplished 
Minister  is  entirely  dependent  on  God  for  every  degree 
of  success  in  his  ministry.  Even  the  apostles  could  not 
convert  a  single  soul  by  all  their  miraculous  gifts,  and 
by  all  their  inspiration;  by  all  their  fervent  zeal  and  in- 
defatigable labours.  This  heavenly  birth  is  not  of  the 
will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God. 
"Paul  may  plant,  and  Apollos  water,  but  God  giveth  the 
increase;  so  then  neither  is  he  that  planteth  any  thing, 
neither  he  that  watereth;  but  God  that  giveth  the  in- 
crease." Since,  then,  you  are  entirely  dependent  on  the 
grace  of  God  for  your  success  in  your  work,  is  it  not  ex- 
ceedingly  important,  that  you  should  have  skill  and 
energy  in  using  the  instrument  by  which  divine  in- 
fluences maybe  brought  down  upon  your  ministrations? 
And  you  need  not  be  informed,  that  the  prayer  of  faith 
is  the  instrument  by  which  the  kingdom  of  heaven  may 
be,  as  it  were,  invaded,  and  taken  by  violence.  God 
cannot  resist  (I  speak  it  with  reverence,)  the  force  of  a 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  187 

holy,  believing,  untiring  importunity,  which  resolves  to 
give  him  no  rest,  until  he  grants  the  blessing.  Why 
are  the  labours  of  Ministers  so  frequently  barren  of 
fruit?  Why  are  they  still  destined  to  cry,  "Who  hath 
believed  our  report?"  The  fault  is  not  principally  in 
the  preaching:  this  is  sound,  and  evangelical ;  but  pro- 
bably the  great  deficiency  lies  in  the  feebleness  of  our 
prayers.  God  is  waiting  to  be  gracious;  but  he  will  be 
inquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel  for  these  things,  that 
he  may  do  it  for  them.  If  the  good  seed  of  the  word 
were  soaked  in  prayer  before  it  is  dispensed,  and  then 
watered  with  prayer  after  it  is  sown,  it  would  oftener  be 
seen  to  spring  up  and  bring  forth  abundant  fruit.  The 
man  of  God  must  be  a  man  of  prayer — he  must  be  in- 
stant, unceasing,  and  fervent  in  prayer;  and  then  he 
will  be  able  to  open  heaven,  and  call  down  showers  of 
divine  influences  upon  his  other  labours.  But  how 
otherwise  can  this  grace  and  gift  of  prayer  be  obtained 
but  by  attaining  to  eminence  in  piety  ?  On  this  subject 
Christ  himself,  who  is  the  fountain  of  life,  and  himself 
the  giver  of  all  spiritual  blessings,  has  set  us  a  perfect 
example  that  we  should  follow  his  steps.  At  this  day, 
especially,  we  need  men,  not  only  mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, but  mighty  in  prayer.  In  conducting  the  pub- 
lic prayers  of  the  congregation,  how  much  the  comfort 
and  edification  of  the  pious  depends  on  the  spirit  of  him 
who  is  their  mouth  to  speak  unto  God,  must  be  obvious  to 
all.  Our  mode  of  offering  up  our  prayers  without  a  pre- 
conceived form,  can  commend  itself  to  enlightened  and 
spiritual  men,  only  when  our  Ministers  shall  possess  the 

a 


188  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

true  spirit  of  prayer,  and  shall  pray  with  the  spirit  and 
with  the  understanding.  Cultivate  piety,  then,  in  all  its 
parts,  for  prayer  is  nothing-  else  but  the  natural  language 
of  the  pious  heart;  it  is  the  breathing  of  the  new  man; 
or  rather  the  inexpressible  groaning  and  sighing  of  a 
soul  sick  of  sin,  and  panting  for  deliverance.  O  that 
young  men  who  seek  to  be  useful  in  the  ministry,  would 
spend  more  time  in  communion  with  God  in  prayer,  than 
they  commonly  do!  To  be  eminent  in  piety  and  mighty 
in  prayer,  are  identical. 

IV.  The  example  and  daily  walk  of  a  pastor  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  his  usefulness  among  his  people. 
The  sentiments  of  a  large  majority  of  the  people,  re- 
specting the  nature  of  piety  and  the  correct  standard  of 
life,  will  be  taken  rather  from  the  example  than  the  dis- 
courses of  their  pastor.  A  holy  life  preaches  to  the  con- 
sciences of  men  as  nothing  else  does;  and  it  gives  weight 
and  influence  to  every  word  which  he  speaks;  whereas, 
if  a  Minister's  conduct  be  not  exemplary,  he  may  speak 
with  the  eloquence  of  men  and  angels,  and  it  will  be 
disregarded.  The  wickedest  men  in  society  feel  the 
force  of  a  consistent  and  holy  life.  They  may  hate  the 
man  because  he  reproves  their  sins;  but  in  their  inmost 
souls  they  fear  and  respect  him;  and  are  more  per- 
suaded of  the  reality  of  true  religion  by  one  such  ex- 
ample, than  by  a  thousand  arguments.  The  pious  are 
continually  edified  and  comforted  by  seeing  the  godly 
walk  of  their  spiritual  guide.  As  he  appears  to  follow 
Christ,  so  they  will  endeavour  to  follow  him.    They  see 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  189 

by  his  conduct  what  manner  of  persons  Christians  ought 
to  be;  for  duty  is  much  more  evident  when  it  is  dis- 
tinctly drawn  out  and  exhibited  in  the  life,  than  when 
inculcated  in  words.  Now  it  may  be  laid  down  as  a 
maxim,  that  a  man's  life  will  be  as  is  his  inward  piety. 
No  man  ever  did  lead  a  holy  life  who  had  no  experience 
of  the  power  of  true  godliness.  And  that  pastor  who 
possesses  eminent  piety,  is  the  only  one  whose  example 
will  produce  much  effect  on  the  minds  of  men.  Others 
may  make  an  external  show  of  zeal,  and  may  abound 
in  religious  duties,  but  the  sweet  savour  of  piety 
will  be  wanting,  and  the  uniform  consistency  of  the 
mature  Christian  will  not  be  found,  when  their  whole 
conduct  is  scrutinized.  It  ought  also  to  be  kept  in  mind, 
that  no  man  can  have  any  security  that  he  will  not  fall 
into  disgraceful  sins,  but  by  aiming  at  a  high  standard 
of  piety.  The  power  of  temptation  is  too  great  to 
be  resisted  by  a  weak  and  irregular  faith;  and  no 
men  are  exposed  to  more  dangerous  temptations  than 
are  some  Ministers  of  the  Gospel.  And,  alas!  many 
stand  as  beacons  to  warn  those  who  come  after  them 
of  the  dangerous  rocks  and  quicksands  which  beset 
the  course  of  the  Minister  of  the  Gospel.  Some  who 
went  out  of  port  with  swelling  sails  and  fearless  confi- 
dence, are  seen,  after  being  tossed  and  driven  with  a 
succession  of  fierce  tempests,  reduced  almost  to  the  con- 
dition of  a  wreck.  "Let  him  that  standeth  take  heed 
lest  he  fall."  But  when  gross  misconduct  is  avoided, 
there  may  be  so  much  appearance  of  vanity,  of  levity. 


190  THE  IMPORTANCE  OP 

of  indolence,  of  peevishness,  of  worldly  mindedness,  or 
of  unsteadiness  in  principle  and  practice,  that  no  one  is 
edified  by  the  example  and  conversation  of  their  pastor. 
While  the  devoutly  pious  weep  in  secret  over  his  foibles 
and  deficiencies,  the  wicked  secretly  triumph  and  take 
confidence,  because  they  see  so  little  in  the  man  of  God 
which  distinguishes  him  from  themselves.  The  exam- 
ple of  the  pastor,  instead  of  elevating  the  standard  of 
piety  among  the  people,  is  continually  pleaded  by  pro- 
fessors and  others  as  sanctioning  their  self-indulgent 
and  careless  manner  of  living.  Be  persuaded,  my  young 
friends,  to  "  let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they 
seeing  your  good  works  may  glorify  your  father  who  is 
in  heaven."  "  Be  an  example  of  believers,  in  word,  in 
conversation,  in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity." 
"Follow  after  righteousness,  godliness,  faith,  love,  pa- 
tience, meekness."  Nothing  upon  earth  is  so  lovely  as 
the  mild  but  steady  light  of  a  holy  life.  And  to  exhibit 
such  a  life,  you  must  become  eminent  in  piety. 

V.  Another  consideration,  which  will  confirm  what 
has  been  said  respecting  the  importance  of  eminent  piety 
to  Ministers  is,  that  without  this  no  man  can  be  qualified 
to  solve  cases  of  conscience,  and  to  direct  the  perplexed 
and  troubled  spirit  in  the  way  of  peace.  One  great  end 
of  the  ministry  is  to  bind  up  the  brpken-hearted,  and  to 
comfort  mourners  in  Zion ;  but  how  can  that  shepherd 
heal  the  diseased  of  the  flock,  and  guide  the  weak  and 
ignorant,  who  is  but  little  experienced  in  the  divine  life  ? 
*  The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  him.'  The 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  191 

man  who  knows  not  the  conflicts  of  the  Christian  life,  the 
buffetings  of  temptation,  and  the  succours  of  grace,  can- 
not be  a  skilful  spiritual  guide.  Many  young  preachers' 
who  may  attract  much  admiration  by  their  pulpit  per- 
formances,  are,  nevertheless,  poorly  qualified  to  deal  with 
diseased  consciences,  or  to  guide  those  Christians  who 
have  made  great  advances  in  the  divine  life.  And  no 
human  learning  can  fit  a  preacher  for  this  part  of  his 
work;  he  must  be  taught  of  God;  and  should  seek  to 
know  the  hidden  life  of  communion  with  God,  by  a  rich 
and  growing  experience. 

VI.  Finally.  Uniform  and  exalted  piety  is  the  only 
thing  which  can  render  your  work  delightful.  To  such 
as  do  not  live  habitually  under  a  sense  of  divine  truth, 
the  duties  of  the  ministry  must  be  exceedingly  irksome, 
and  almost  intolerable.  To  a  heart  unreconciled  to  God, 
and  destitute  of  all  relish  for  divine  things,  what  enjoy- 
ment can  there  be  in  prayer,  in  preaching,  and  catechising, 
and  attending  on  the  beds  of  the  sick  and  the  houses  of 
poverty  and  mourning.  It  is,  indeed,  strange,  that  such 
men  should  ever  think  of  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  as 
a  profession  for  life.  But  ambition  and  vain  glory  may 
find  gratification  in  the  opportunity  which  the  pulpit  af^ 
fords  for  the  display  of  learning,  ingenuity,  and  elo- 
quence, and  in  the  respect  and  sanctity  which,  in  the 
view  of  many,  is  attached  to  the  sacred  ofiice;  but  with- 
out lively  piety,  there  can  be  no  delight  in  the  more  pri- 
vate and  self-denying  duties  of  the  pastoral  care.  It  is 
love  which  makes  every  burden  light,  and  every  yoke 

q2 


192  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 

easy.  To  one  who  loves  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  supremely, 
no  work  can  be  more  pleasant  than  the  feeding  of  his 
sheep  and  lambs.  The  good  pastor  loves  the  sheep 
for  the  sake  of  their  Owner,  the  great  and  good  Shep- 
herd, who  laid  down  his  life  for  them.  For  his  sake,  la- 
hour,  and  toil,  and  sorrow,  and  persecution  are  not  only 
borne  with  patience,  but  welcomed  and  rejoiced  in. 

Animated  by  this  living  principle  of  love  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  pious  Missionary  shuts  his  eyes  on  all 
that  the  world  esteems  good  and  great,  and  embraces  a 
life  ofpoverty,  toil,  and  suffering,  in  far  distant  lands.  The 
endearments  of  home,  and  relatives,  and  country,  he  re- 
linquishes, and  becomes,  for  life,  a  voluntary  exile.  To 
the  men  of  the  world,  his  conduct  appears  wrapt  in  mys- 
tery. They  cannot  understand  the  nature  of  his  feelings, 
and  call  them  by  the  opprobrious  name  of  enthusiasm. 
To  them  it  seems  to  be  an  unnatural  sacrifice  of  happi- 
ness; for  they  cannot  imagine,  that  he  has  any  compen- 
sation for  his  losses.  But  the  truth  is,  no  men  on  earth 
enjoy  more  pure  happiness  than  devoted  Missionaries. 
They  do  actually  receive  a  hundred  fold  for  all  the  sa- 
crifices which  they  have  made.  I  speak  of  such  as  are 
actuated  by  deep  and  ardent  feelings  of  piety;  for,  strange 
as  it  may  seem,  it  is  possible  for  men  to  become  not 
only  Missionaries,  but  martyrs,  and  yet  be  utterly  desti- 
tute of  true  rehgion.  But  such  instances,  it  may  be 
presumed,  are  rare.  That  which  moves,  supports,  ani- 
mates, and  consoles  the  laborious  preacher  among  the 
Heathen,  is  the  warm  and  steady  glow  of  love  to  the  Re- 
deemer, and  to  the  souls  of  men.     The  more  a  Christian 


AIMING  AT  EMINENT  PIETY.  193 

is  cast  upon  religion  alone  for  his  happiness,  the  more 
does  he  enjoy  its  pleasures.  For  this  reason,  the  pious 
Missionary,  although  surrounded  with  dangers  and  diffi- 
culties,  and  often  almost  overwhelmed  with  sorrow  and 
discouragement,  upon  the  whole,  is  among  the  happiest 
of  mortals ;  and  he  would  be  unwilling  to  exchange  his 
condition  for  one  of  the  greatest  affluence  and  ease. 

It  was  nothing  but  the  constant  exercise  of  emi- 
nent piety  which  animated  the  apostles  and  primi- 
live  Christians  with  such  an  inextinguishable  ardour; 
and  which  caused  them  to  rejoice  even,  in  reproaches 
and  persecutions.  There  was  no  miracle  necessary 
to  enable  the  martyrs  to  rejoice  at  the  stake,  and 
even  in  the  flames;  the  shedding  abroad  of  the  love 
of  God  in  their  hearts  was  sufficient  to  produce  all  the 
effects  which  were  witnessed;  and  the  same  would  now 
result  from  the  same  cause. 

Be  assured,  my  dear  ypung  friends,  that  without 
genuine  piety,  the  office  of  the  holy  Ministry  will  not 
be  tolerable,  unless  the  conscience  be  seared  as  with  a 
hot  iron;  and  without  eminent  piety,  your  work  will 
not  be  pleasant;  but  if  your  hearts  are  deeply  af- 
fected with  the  truths  which  you  profess  to  love,  and 
which  you  expect  to  preach,  notliing  will  be  able  to 
prevent  or  materially  to  disturb  your  peace  of  mind. 
This  is  a  joy  which  is  full,  and  which  no  man  taketh 
away  from  you.  If,  therefore,  you  wish  for  a  happy 
life  and  a  peaceful  end,  cultivate  piety  and  daily 
study  to  become  eminent  in  every  branch  of  the  Chris- 
tian character.    Remember,  too,  that  you  must  soon  ap- 


194  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF,  &C. 

pear  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ  to  render  an  ac- 
count of  your  stewardship.  When  that  solemn  hour 
shall  have  come,  the  advantages  of  eminent  piety  will  be 
most  conspicuous.  The  difference  between  the  faithful 
and  diligent,  and  the  wicked  and  slothful  servant  will 
be  manifest  to  all;  the  one  will  be  for  ever  comforted,  and 
the  other  tormented.  To  the  one,  the  Lord  will  say, 
"  Well  done  good  and  faithful  servant  enter  into  the  joy 
of  thy  Lord ;  "  to  the  other,  "  Depart  from  me,  I  never 
knew  you."  Through  eternity  shall  the  pious  and  de- 
voted Minister  rejoice  in  the  presence  of  God,  with  those 
redeemed  spirits,  whom  he  has  been  the  instrument  of 
rescuing  from  hell  and  conducting  to  heaven.  But  who 
can  describe  the  anguish  and  the  wailings  of  unfaithful 
Ministers,  when,  with  Judas,  they  lift  up  their  eyes  in 
the  deepest  regions  of  despair.  "  Hell,"  said  one  of  the 
fathers,  "  is  paved  with  the  sculls  of  ungodly  Ministers." 
O,  then,  be  in  earnest  about  your  work.  Let  divine  love 
glow  in  your  own  bosom.  Regard  not  the  world  nor  the 
things  in  the  world.  Be  instant  in  season  and  out  of 
season.  Live  near  to  God,  and  keep  up  a  lively  sense  of 
divine  things  on  your  minds.  Exert  every  facultj',  and 
employ  every  talent  and  opportunity  in  promoting  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men.  Be  faithful  unto 
death,  and  yje  shajl  receive  the  crown  of  life,. 


Cs) 


ON  THE 


NECESSITY  OF  A  KNOWLEDGE 


OXlIGIiril.1.  IiAIi-aUiLGES 


SCRIPTURES, 


y 


BY  REV.  CHARLES  HODGE, 

Professor  of  Oriental  and  Biblical  Literature  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J, 


fS 


l"^—? 


